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Stress Analysis for Wing Attachment Brackets
Tarun Kumar B. Jain Boopathi Raja G
B. Tech Student B. Tech Student
Department of Aeronautical Sciences, Department of Aeronautical Sciences, Department of Aeronautical Sciences,
Hindustan University, Hindustan University,
Chennai, India. Chennai, India.
AbstractIn this paper we describe how to design and analyze
the brackets at various tensile loading conditions acting at Centre
of Gravity point of fasteners. Material used for brackets and
fasteners are Al alloy 7075-T6 and Ti-6Al-4V respectively. This is
done to ensure structural stability. The equivalent stress is
compared to yield strength of the material used. The design and
analysis of the brackets and fasteners is carried out using CATIA
V5 and ANSYS software. Finite element method is used for the
stress analysis. Calculation of equivalent stress, shear stress and
total deformation will be considered under this study. Finally,
weve carried out modal analysis of brackets to know the right
excitation conditions which may cause resonant response.
KeywordsBrackets, Stress analysis, Modal analysis, Static load,
Finite elelment method, use of brackets in aircraft, CATIA, ANSYS
and Wing attachment Brackets.
I. INTRODUCTION
An aircraft is a complex structure, but a very efficient man-
made flying machine. Aircraft are generally built-up from the
basic components of wings, fuselage, tail units and control
surfaces. The load-bearing members of these main sections,
those subjected to major forces, are called the airframe.
Brackets are connector type elements widely used as structural
supports to carry hydraulic and electrical lines used in engines,
wings and landing gear links. Failure of brackets may lead to
the catastrophic failure of the whole structure. Finite element
analysis studies and experimental data help the designer to
safeguard the structure from catastrophic failure. I-Bracket
and Z-Bracket are considered for our project to analyze stress
and natural frequencies that may cause resonant response
under right excitation forces.
Fig. 1.1 I-Bracket Fig. 1.2 Z-Bracket
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
B.K. Sriranga, Dr.C.N. Chandrappa, R. Kumar and Dr.P.K.
Dash, Stress Analysis of Wing-Fuselage Lug attachment
Bracket of a Transport Aircraft [1]: Civil transport aircraft is
used for analysis. At the time of flight at maximum lift, the
wings will undergo highest bending. Fuselage and wings are
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(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)
International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 5 Issue 05, May-2016
Meenakshi Sundaram
Associate Professor
Hindustan University,
Chennai, India.
attached through wing-fuselage brackets. Bending load joints
are used for analysis. In this thesis they used two geometries
which consists of I-spar of Aluminium Alloy 2024-T351 and
Lug-joint of Alloy steel heat treated AISI-4340 as material.
They carried out stress analysis and identified the maximum
tensile stress position at lug holes and validation is carried out
by considering plate with circular hole.
Umesh S. Ghorpade, Prof. D.S. Chavan, Prof. M.V.
Kavade, Static Structural and Modal Analysis of Engine
Bracket Using Finite Element Analysis [2]: The process of
optimization of natural frequency of engine mount bracket is
done to for noise reduction using different lightweight
materials for structural stability, which reduces weight of
aircraft. The results from thesis concluded that low natural
frequency will prove as a hindrance in vibration characteristics
of the bracket.
Shashikumar.C, Nagesh.N, Ganesh, Design and Analysis
of Wing fuselage attachment bracket for fighter aircraft [3]:
Design and analysis of wing-fuselage bracket for fighter
aircraft is carried out to predict the fatigue life. In a metallic
structure fatigue manifests itself in the form of a crack which
propagates. Fatigue cracks will appear at the location of high
tensile stress. As a result maximum stress concentrations were
found at one of the lug hole.
Harish E.R.M., Mahesha.K, Sartaj Patel, Stress Analysis
for Wing Attachment Bracket of a six seater Transport
Airframe Structure [4]: Stress analysis of the wing fuselage
lug attachment bracket is carried out to ensure static load
carrying capability. Finite element method is used to find
maximum tensile stress at one of the rivet hole of I-spar plate.
III. PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
At first the theoretical study of bracket is done. The overall
purpose of wing attachment bracket is to support the hydraulic
and electrical lines. The key areas for modification are
identified. The main task in this study is to find the equivalent
stress, total deformation and shear stress on brackets by
optimizing it for various loading conditions. The 3-dimensional
model is prepared using Catia V5 for Brackets. Different type
of materials are assigned and analysis is carried out using finite
element analysis software named Ansys Inc. Finally, Natural
frequencies for brackets at various modes were found which
gave right excitation values that may cause resonance.
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IV. SCOPE OF WORK
This paper explains the ability of the material used for
brackets with fasteners to withstand the applied tensile loads
about the C.G. of the fasteners at system side. The envelope
load due to hydraulic and electrical unit is transformed to
design load of about 100 N. Different lightweight materials,
which reduces weight of the aircraft is used. Location of
stresses and natural frequency of brackets is analyzed.
V. OBJECTIVES
To carry out stress analysis of the wing attachment brackets
using Catia V5 and Ansys software. Comparing values of total
deformation, equivalent-stress, elastic strain and shear stress.
We can further plot the total deformation-load graph and
stress-strain curve at different tensile loading conditions to
compare brackets. Modal analysis of brackets at different
modes of frequency is also carried out to avoid resonant
response under excitation conditions.
VI. GEOMETRICAL CONFIGURATION
The geometrical dimensions of the brackets and fasteners are
shown in the figure.
Fig. 6.1 Dimensions of I-Bracket
Fig. 6.2 Dimensions of Z-Bracket
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International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 5 Issue 05, May-2016
Fig. 6.3 Dimensions of Fasteners
VII. MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
The material considered for brackets is Al alloy 7075-T6,
the following mechanical properties are:
1. Density, = 2810 kg/m3
2. Youngs Modulus, E = 71.7 GPa
3. Poissons Ratio, = 0.33
4. Ultimate Strength, u = 572 MPa
5. Yield Strength, y = 503 MPa
The material considered for fasteners is Ti-6Al-4V, the
following mechanical properties are:
1. Density, = 4430 kg/m3
2. Youngs Modulus, E = 113.8 GPa
3. Poissons Ratio, = 0.34
4. Ultimate Strength, u = 950 MPa
5. Yield Strength, y = 880 MPa
VIII. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
The finite element analysis (FEA) is an implementation of
FEM to solve a certain type of problem. The finite element
method (FEM) is a numerical technique for solving problems
which are described by partial differential equations or can be
formulated as functional minimization. A domain of interest is
represented as an assembly of finite elements. Approximating
functions in finite elements are determined in terms of nodal
values. A continuous physical problem is transformed into a
discretized finite element problem with unknown nodal
values. The software used for the analysis of brackets is
Ansys.
A. Meshing of Brackets
Element is an entity into which the system under study is
divided. An element shape is specified by nodes. There are
many types of element shapes that are further divided into
various classes depending on their uses. A volume element has
the shape of a hexahedron (8 nodes), wedge (6 nodes),
tetrahedron (4 nodes) or a pyramid (5 nodes). In this paper
using FEM approach, hexahedron element type meshing is
performed.
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TABLE 8.1 DESIGN LOAD: SYSTEM SIDE

Fx Fy Fz Mx My Mz
(N) (N) (N) (Nmm) (Nmm) (Nmm)
100 100 100 0 0 0

The transformation from envelope load to design load is not

required.

Transformed

Fig. 8.1 Meshed I-Bracket

Statistics of meshed I-Bracket:

Mesh type: Hex dominant (8 Nodal element)
No. of Nodes: 33588
No. of Elements: 10090 Fig.8.3 Envelope Load Fig. 8.4 Design Load

C. Loads and Boundary Conditions:

The rib side of the brackets is fixed and the system side
load is applied at C.G. of the fasteners. The loads and
boundary conditions along with the finite element model
are shown in the figure.

Fig. 8.2 Meshed Z-Bracket

Statistics of meshed Z-Bracket:

Mesh type: Hex dominant (8 Nodal element)
No. of Nodes: 40098
No. of Elements: 11667

Fig. 8.5 Boundary Conditions for I-Bracket

B. Stress Analysis
The context of this paper is pertained to hydraulic and
electrical systems, which are two areas where the routing of
air ducts and electrical wires/cable bundles, respectively need
to be securely clamped to the structural elements like brackets.
Pressure load due to hydraulic unit and electric cables/wires is
transformed to brackets as design load acting at C.G. of the
fasteners at system side. Other end of the brackets considered
to be fixed which can be attached to the spar. Hence when
geometry has multiple parts it has to be defined with proper
connections between each parts. Only after the creation of
these connections the load applied to one part can be
transferred to equally to all parts. In the bracket assembly it
has 9 parts, of two different materials has been used so each
has to be defined with appropriate contacts. Contact type can
be bonded or frictional type with frictional coefficient of about Fig. 8.6 Boundary Conditions for Z-Bracket
0.15.

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D. Comparative data sheets: IX. MODAL ANALYSIS OF BRACKETS

On application of various tensile loads at system side Natural frequencies of systems are those frequencies at which
fasteners, analyzed results are tabulated to plot graphs. The the resonant response occurs under the right excitation
results taken are total deformation, equivalent stress, elastic conditions. Knowledge of these critical dynamic frequencies is
strain and shear stress. an essential step in the design and evaluation of a system
subjected to dynamic loading. Different modes of frequency
TABLE 8.2 ANALYZED RESULTS OF I-BRACKET can be estimated by modal analysis using Ansys software.
S. No. Load, Total Equivalent Equivalent Shear
P Deformation, Stress, Elastic Stress, TABLE 9.1 NATURAL FREQUENCIES
(N) dl v Strain,
(mm) (MPa) x 10-3 (MPa) Brackets Mode 1 (Hz) Mode 2 (Hz) Mode 3 (Hz)
(mm/mm) I-Bracket 689.29 1215.1 2422.6
1 25 0.23 95.43 1.43 24.83 Z-Bracket 584.32 1169.7 2400.1
2 50 0.47 127.1 1.77 25.44
3 75 0.71 190.65 2.66 33.58
4 100 0.95 254.2 3.55 44.82 X. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
5 125 1.19 317.76 4.44 50.06
Stress analysis of the wing attachment bracket is carried
out in this paper using FEM approach. Maximum tensile stress
TABLE 8.3 ANALYZED RESULTS OF Z-BRACKET is about 317.76 MPa in I bracket and about 216.35 MPa in Z
S. No. Load, Total Equivalent Equivalent Shear bracket observed at 125 N, ultimate load near fixed end.
P Deformation, Stress, Elastic Stress, Maximum tensile stress is below the yield strength of the
(N) dl v Strain, material used for brackets. Shear stress due to various tensile
(mm) (MPa) x 10-3 (MPa)
(mm/mm) loads on fasteners is also found out.
1 25 0.09 43.26 0.77 18.43
2 50 0.19 86.53 1.55 36.86
3 75 0.28 129.81 2.32 55.3 XI. CONCLUSIONS
4 100 0.38 173.08 3.1 73.74
The maximum stress values obtained is within the yield
5 125 0.47 216.35 3.87 92.17
strength of the material. Several iterations are carried out to
obtain a mesh independent value for maximum stress. The
point of maximum stress is the possible location of crack
initiation in the structure due to fatigue loading. Various
modes of frequency gives right excitation values that may
induce high amplitude of vibrations causing resonance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The analytical work was conducted at P3 Consulting
Engineering Private Limited, Bangalore. The author gratefully
acknowledge their support. The author would also like to
thank Dr. R. Ashokan, Senior Professor, Department of
Aeronautical Sciences, Hindustan University, Chennai for
Fig. 8.7 Equivalent Stresses on I-Bracket
providing expert guidance and advice for the analytical work.

REFERENCES
[1] B.K. Sriranga, Dr.C.N. Chandrappa, R. Kumar and Dr.P.K. Dash,
Stress analysis of wing-fuselage lug attachment bracket of a transport
aircraft, ICCOMIM, July 2012.
[2] Umesh S. Ghorpade, Prof. D.S. Chavan, Prof. M.V. Kavade, Static
structural and modal analysis of engine bracket using finite element
analysis, IJERT, ISSN: 2278-0181, Vol. 1 Issue 10, December 2012.
[3] Harish E.R.M., Mahesha.K, Sartaj Patel, Stress analysis for wing
attachment bracket of a six seater transport airframe structure, IJIRSET,
ISSN: 2319-8753, Vol. 2 Issue 7, July 2013.
[4] Shashikumar.C, Nagesh.N, Ganesh, Design and analysis of wing
fuselage attachment bracket for fighter aircraft, IJERGS, ISSN: 2091-
2730, Vol. 4 Issue 1, Jan-Feb 2016.
[5] R.K. Bansal, Strength of materials, 4th Edition.
[6] Chandrapatla, Introduction to FEA, 3rd Edition.
[7] E.F. Bruhn, Analysis and design of flight vehicle structures, 1973.
[8] Michael Chun-Yung Niu, Airframe stress analysis and sizing 2nd
Fig 8.8 Equivalent Stresses on Z-Bracket Edition.
[9] Stephen P. Timoshenko, Theory of elastic stability.

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